Improvement in splices for electric track-circuits



v w. nosmsouff I 'Splices for Electric Track Circuits y 55 259 Pate tedse t.22,187 4.

Wilfnessesz' Inventor:

THE GRAPHIC CO.PHOTO'l-ITH.39& 4| PARK PLACE N.Y-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ROBINSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPLICES FOR ELECTRIC TRACK-CIRCUITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 155,259, dated September 22, 1874; application filed July 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROBINSON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Railroad-Rail Splices for Electric-Signaling Purposes, of which the following is a specification The invention relates to rail-splices for railroads, its object being to secure under all circumstances a perfectly reliable metallic connection between the adjacent rails of a railline, in order that long lines of rails may be reliable for conducting the electric current in railway-signaling.

' Many of the splices now in common use cannot be relied upon for the purpose indicated.

The invention consists in a metallic spring plate, of suitable form, brought into contact with two adjacent rails in such a way as to be held in place by the ordinary rail-splice between the inner bolts, which hold the same in position.

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows an edge view of the curved spring-plate Fig. 2, a front View of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two adjacent rails, showing the spring-plate applied in proper place; and Fig. 4, a top sectional View of the same, showing the head of the rails removed by a horizontal section through the line 00 00, Fig. 3.

A is the spring-plate; B and 0, adjacent rails, abutting at F. The plate A is curved or set at an angle, so that when it is applied to the rails B G at the junction F, and the ordinary splices D E are applied and screwed up, the pressure of the splice E on the plate A will have a tendency to straighten out the latter, and thus the ends of the plate A will be pressed very firmly against the rails B and O, insuring good metallic connection between the latter, even when the splices D and E are loose. This..sprin g plate is desirable as an auxiliary in securing good connections at all joints. Nevertheless, with good fished joints, it may, in some cases, be dispensed with. With many styles of joint it is indispensable, as, for instance, with the so-called wooden block joint, whereas the old style chair cannot be used at all in its ordinary condition for the purpose indicated.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the adjacent rails of a track and splice or fish bars, of the curved metallic plate A, applied between a splice or fish bar and the rails, and electrically connectin g the rails, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM ROBINSON. 

